16 U.S.C. § 7142: Use

Summary

Participating counties must use these county funds only for certain things. They can run Firewise programs to teach and help homeowners in fire-prone areas how to place, build, and landscape homes to lower wildfire risk. They can repay the county for search-and-rescue and other emergency services (including firefighting and law enforcement patrols) that happened on Federal land after the use was approved and that the county paid for. They can pay for training and equipment directly tied to those services. They can make and carry out community wildfire protection plans with the relevant federal Secretary. They can also provide or expand broadband at local schools or the technology and connections students need for digital learning. A county can spend money for any of these uses only after a 45-day public comment period. At the start of that period the county must publish a proposal describing the planned use in local public notices and send the proposal to the county’s resource advisory committee under section 7125.

Title 16, §7142

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authorized uses

A participating county, including any applicable agencies of the participating county, shall use county funds, in accordance with this subchapter, only—

(1)to carry out activities under the Firewise Communities program to provide to homeowners in fire-sensitive ecosystems education on, and assistance with implementing, techniques in home siting, home construction, and home landscaping that can increase the protection of people and property from wildfires;

(2)to reimburse the participating county for search and rescue and other emergency services, including firefighting and law enforcement patrols, that are—

(A)performed on Federal land after the date on which the use was approved under subsection (b); and

(B)paid for by the participating county;

(3)to cover training costs and equipment purchases directly related to the emergency services described in paragraph (2);

(4)to develop and carry out community wildfire protection plans in coordination with the appropriate Secretary concerned; and

(5)to provide or expand access to—

(A)broadband telecommunications services at local schools; or

(B)the technology and connectivity necessary for students to use a digital learning tool at or outside of a local school campus.

(b)Proposals

A participating county shall use county funds for a use described in subsection (a) only after a 45-day public comment period, at the beginning of which the participating county shall—

(1)publish in any publications of local record a proposal that describes the proposed use of the county funds; and

(2)submit the proposal to any resource advisory committee established under section 7125 of this title for the participating county.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 302 of Pub. L. 106–393 was set out in a note under section 500 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 110–343, div. C, title VI, § 601(a), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3893.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 117–58 added par. (5). 2018—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(1), inserted “and law

Enforcement

patrols” after “including firefighting” in introductory provisions and struck out “and” at end of subpar. (B). Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(4), added par. (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(2), inserted “and carry out” after “develop”. Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 115–141, § 402(3), redesignated par. (3) as (4). 2012—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 112–141 inserted “and” at end.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Wage Rate RequirementsFor provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for

Construction

, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

§7142 Use